Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l was a brilliant posek with expertise in every area of halacha whose every interaction was conducted with the utmost sensitivity. For most of his life, Rav Shlomo Zalman suffered from a rare nerve disease. When it would flare up, he described it as the feeling of a snakebite in his face. The pain was excruciating. It would completely overtake him and he would nearly collapse.
Rabbi Yerachmiel Fried, rosh kollel and the author of sefarim based on Rav Shlomo Zalman’s psakim, used to drive Rav Shlomo Zalman home from yeshivah every Tuesday. Once, on the way home, Rabbi Fried told Rav Shlomo Zalman that he had a shailah which was pikuach nefesh. At that moment, Rav Shlomo Zalman was struck by an attack of this disease. Immediately, Rabbi Fried offered to take the rosh yeshivah home. Rav Shlomo Zalman refused. Instead, he said that Rabbi Fried should pull over and wait out the attack.
Rabbi Fried persisted, but Rav Shlomo Zalman said, “You said it is pikuach nefesh. We can't go home; I have to answer the shailah.”
Rabbi Fried pulled over to the side of the road. Rav Shlomo Zalman waited until the pain had diminished somewhat, and then said weakly, “OK—ask the shailah.”
What we know about Rav Shlomo Zalman’s gadlus in Torah is just the tip of the iceberg.
Courtesy of Agudas Yisroel of America
